BOYS' BASKETBALL: Waynesboro sets sights on successful season

Is “a year away” here for the Waynesboro Indians basketball team? Well, we’re about to find out as the Tribe begins the 2013-14 season on Friday at the Franklin County Tip-Off Tournament.

Comment

By Lee Goodwin

Waynesboro Record Herald - Waynesboro, PA

By Lee Goodwin

Posted Dec. 4, 2013 at 10:30 AM

By Lee Goodwin

Posted Dec. 4, 2013 at 10:30 AM

WAYNESBORO — Is “a year away” here for the Waynesboro Indians basketball team?

Well, we’re about to find out as the Tribe begins the 2013-14 season on Friday at the Franklin County Tip-Off Tournament.

Head coach Tom Hoffman, entering his 14th season at the position, laid the groundwork for this season after Waynesboro finished 7-15 (4-8 Mid-Penn Colonial Division last season.

“There is no doubt we have to improve defensively and that will be the focus for our coaching staff in planning for next year,” Hoffman said. “At various times throughout the season it felt like we were a ‘year away’ and it will be interesting to see if that plays out.”

“I’m very optimistic,” Hoffman said of the upcoming season. “We are an experienced team that has been through the ‘battles’ over the last few years as part of a rebuilding process. We have high expectations. This group has looked at themselves as a team that would ultimately return the program to its winning ways from five years ago.

“It remains to be seen if expectations will be fulfilled, but I certainly think we have the talent, motivation and work ethic to get it done. The guys have set some pretty lofty goals and we can’t wait to get started.”

Waynesboro was 2-8 in games that went down to the last few minutes of the fourth quarter. Some really tough losses came against Spring Grove (55-54) and boiling Springs (52-51).

But the Indians also rallied from a 16-4 deficit to beat Northern on “Pack the House” night and came back from a 26-6 deficit to take a 45-42 lead before losing to Shippensburg 63-55.

While experience is a big plus for Waynesboro, size is a concern.

“We have a roster filled with juniors and seniors who are returning players,” Hoffman said. “We’re a skilled team that can shoot pretty well and plays very hard. We pride ourselves on trying to outwork our opponent every night, which hopefully offsets any deficiencies we may have.